The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

THE ISLAND OF GREAT BRITAIN

ENGLAND, SCOTLAND

WALES, NORTHERN IRELAND

LONDON

A

Aberdeen – the oil center of Scotland

B

Belfast – the capital city of Northern Ireland

Ben Nevis – the highest point in the British Isles (1343 m)

Birmingham – an important industrial city where metal goods are produced

C

Cardiff – the capital city of Wales, an important industrial city and a port, an administrative and educational centre, situated near the mouth of the Taff River

the City – the financial center of the UK with many banks offices and the Stock Exchange

E

the East End – otherwise Docklands. Until the mid-20^th century, workers in the area depended largely on employment at the Docklands, major sources of income now include service industries and light manufacturing (notably clothing).

Edinburgh – the capital city of Scotland, the cultural center of associated with the world-famous Edinburgh Festival of Music and Drama

Eisteddfod – a festival of Welsh culture

the ‘Emerald Isle’ – the poetic name of the island of Ireland

G

Glasgow – Scotland’s biggest city, an important industrial centre

K

kilt – a skirt worn by men and women in Scotland, made of tartan cloth

L

the Lake District – a favourite holiday area in Northern England, containing the beautiful lakes which give it its name, associated with the history of English literature an especially with the name of William Wordsworth (1770-1859), the founder of the Lake School of poets

leek and daffodil – the national emblems of Wales

Loch Ness – the best-known lake in Scotland where some people think a large monster lives

London – the capital city of England and the UK, the largest city in Britain, the most important commercial, manufacturing and cultural centre

Lough Neagh – the largest lake in the British Isles

R

red rose – the national emblem of England

S

the Severn – the longest river in the British Isles (388 km)

shamrock – the national emblem of Ireland

the Shannon – the largest river of Ireland

Snowdon – the highest mountain in England and Wales

Snowdonia – the national park of Wales

Stonehenge – an ancient monument, built in prehistoric times beginning about 3100 BC, it is a monumental circular setting of large standing stones surrounded by an earthwork

Swansea – the second largest city in Wales

T

the Thames – the most important river in the British Isles (344 km)

thistle – the national emblem of Scotland

U

the UK – the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Ulster – used as equivalent to Northern Ireland

the Union Jack – the flag of Great Britain made up of three crosses (the upright red cross is the cross of St. George, the patron saint of England; the white diagonal cross is the cross of St. Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland; the red diagonal cross is the cross of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland)

W

the West End – the cultural center of London with many sightseeings (Buckingham Palace, the Tower, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey etc.)